Speaking of new soundboards...last Tuesday at our chapter meeting we had a young fellow from Germany who had worked in both the Hamburg Steinway & Bechstein factories. He was discussing differences and similarities between the two pianos. At one point when talking about soundboards he mentioned that you could saw kerfs in the bridge of a Bechstein (other pianos too) with a flat board, wedge up the board from underneath and then insert shims in the kerfs thereby recreating some crown and restoring some of the tone when the wedges were removed. When I said that for the work you were doing, restringing etc. a new board would probably be the way to go and he was sure that we wouldn't have a "Bechstein" anymore and the character of the instrument would be lost. Obviously we Americans don't have the right wood and skill to do that. He was very much into the mysterious, romantic qualities of the pianos. Also he said he loved lead in the keys. I was a little incredulous. We had been talking about how the Steinway and Bechstein plates are made the same way, i.e. not the Vacuum process. I was also wondering why Bechsteins don't have the same problems Steinways have with fitting the action to the piano? I guess Bechstein is still doing well. They make around 250 pianos a year. Have a good night! David Ilvedson Date sent: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 09:08:06 -0500 From: Michael Jorgensen <Michael.Jorgensen@cmich.edu> To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: for Sale(money stuff) Send reply to: pianotech@ptg.org > A440A@AOL.COM wrote: > > > If it is of any interest, recent prices here in Tennessee have been $25K > > for a completely rebuilt 1919 Mahogany Steinway O,( everything but the > > soundboard, which was really nice), a 50 year old Baldwin 6' grand( rebuilt > > the same) just went for $16,500. > > I tried to buy a Steinway M(1923) with frozen action, pretty nice case, and a > > Interesting Prices, > The opinions of some on this list indicate that any piano over 40 > should have a new soundboard. Yet these prices aren't far from those > with new boards, atleast in my area. It makes me wonder if there aren't > some myths regarding new boards that should be discussed. > -Mike Jorgensen > David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA ilvey@jps.net
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